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Tigerville, SC - NGU celebrated a new chapter in its institutional history with the beginning of its first doctoral degree program. On Monday, October 3, the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School in Greer began its first seminar week of its Great Commission Studies with Discipleship and Spiritual Formation taught by Dean of the Graduate School of Christian Ministry, Dr. Larry McDonald. The week-long spring seminar on Church Growth and Revitalization will be taught by Dr. Ken Hemphill, Director of NGU’s Center for Church Planting and Revitalization (CPR).

South Carolina's Largest District off to Smooth Start

Last Tuesday night, Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools, gave what will likely be her final school opening report. Dr. Fisher has submitted her resignation and is expected to leave the district as soon as a replacement is hired and given sufficient time for orientation.

Fisher assumed the duties of superintendent in May 2004 on very short notice due to the sudden resignation (or firing) of Dr. William Harner. (The reason for Harner’s hasty departure was never made public due to a secrecy pact agreed to by the departing superintendent and the school board.)

Americans for Prosperity Foundation – South Carolina, in conjunction with The Foundation for Educational Choice, hosted a very successful event in honor of Milton Friedman on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at the Holiday Inn Express in Greenville.  The room was packed, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the program.  Milton Friedman was a Nobel Prize winning economist, who was a vocal supporter of the free market.  According to Friedman, “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither.  A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.”

Pat Wavle is a National Board Certified math teacher. She is married with 5 children, and has taught at Greer High School for 13 years.

She was one of 1100 teachers from around the world who applied for Space Camp. A total of 105 were chosen to attend.  Selected teachers came from 47 states and 22 foreign countries.

Honeywell and NASA sponsor the program.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to practice a lot of math and science, to meet a lot of great teachers from other places, and to learn a lot about our space program,” Wavle said.

School Board Retains Option to Raise Taxes

Greenville County Schools Superintendent Phinnize Fisher withdrew her proposed millage hike prior to the public hearing Thursday, June 2.

Only one citizen spoke in favor of the tax increase at the public hearing. Valerie Hollinger, a former board member, urged the board to vote for the tax increase “for the children.” No citizens appeared to oppose increases in taxes.

“I believe that no child should be forced to attend a failing school,” Dr. Mick Zais, South Carolina Superintendent of Education, told the Greenville County Republican Women Thursday. “Low income families deserve the same rights that high income families have always had, which is to choose the best school, which is the right fit for their child.”

Zais, who took office in January as the first Republican superintendent of education in 12 years, focuses on outcome and student learning, not input spending, curricula and programs.